RWE and Tata Power have agreed on a partnership to explore the potential for a joint development of offshore wind projects in India. A corresponding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited, a 100% subsidiary of Tata Power, which is one of India's largest integrated power companies, and RWE Renewables GmbH, one of the world's leaders in offshore wind.
India is an unexplored and highly attractive market to develop opportunities for offshore wind as it has a large coastline of about 7600 km. The MoU between Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited and RWE becomes significant in the light of the Government of India’s announcement of achieving 30 GW of offshore wind installations by 2030 to meet the country’s growing power demands.
RWE and Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited possess complementary strengths and will enable the establishment of a competitive offshore wind market in India. “RWE is our ideal partner to support Tata Power’s plans to enhance and grow offshore wind business based on its global expertise in running and operating offshore wind projects. In view of the Indian Government's heightened focus on offshore wind farms to address the country's expanding electricity demands, the collaboration becomes even more significant.” said Dr Praveer Sinha, CEO and managing director, Tata Power, talking about the collaboration,
“India has excellent wind resources, which can help to meet the country’s increasing energy demands. If clear regulations and an effective tender scheme are in place, we expect India’s offshore wind industry will gain a real momentum. RWE wants to be part of this development.” explained Sven Utermöhlen, CEO Wind Offshore of RWE Renewables. “With Tata Power we have an outstanding and experienced partner at our side which is deeply rooted locally and shares our ambition to drive the growth of offshore wind in India. Combined with RWE’s 20 years’ track record in developing, constructing and operating offshore wind projects, we are well placed to supply green energy from offshore wind as competitively as possible for the Indian society.”
Establishment of a competitive and sustainable offshore wind market in India
The Indian Government is in the process of conducting detailed technical studies and devising the regulatory framework to establish the first auctions for offshore wind of the coast of Tamil Nadu and Gujarat. Offshore wind has the potential to spur significant infrastructure investment in these states and to support local job creation. To facilitate the establishment of an offshore wind market in India, RWE and Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited will conduct technical and commercial site assessments. In addition, the companies are looking into an evaluation of the Indian offshore wind supply chain and supporting infrastructure, such as ports and grid connections, to identify the local strengths as well as necessary development potential.
